The slave of Likus

I spent a week in Kolkhis and I'm finally ready to head home. There were many interesting people, though some of them were rasists, but overall nice people. I decided to go back to Atlas and spend some time with Nina.

While we were there, I figured out that I don't know Mary's house name. We wait for Low and Mary to come home. So when they came home from work, we sat down to drink some tea and I asked her.

- So what is you house name?

- You don't need to know.

A maid answered.

- Well, it is...

- Not another word!

- What's wrong my lady? What harm does telling them your house name bring you?

- You know damn well why I don't want them to know.

- Is that so? I think it's a wonderful name.

- You are free to think as you will. But not a word, you hear?

- My lips are tied.

- Good.

I say.

- So you really aren't going to tell me?

- No.

- But you know my last name. Why can't I know yours?

- It's simple. I don't want you to know.

Nina asks.

- Why are you so stuborn?

- Because... Look, you three just don't need to know.

I say.

- Then I'm going to ask pope next.

- It's better to not involve pope for such trivial maters.

- Then you will tell me, or you force my hand and ask him.

- Fine! You want to know it so bad?! Fine! Just promise not to laugh.

- I promise.

Low and Nina say.

- Me too.

Mary then breathes in and out then mumbles.

- My name is Ul...

- What?

- I said that my name is Uli...

- I didn't get it. What is it?

- I said that my last name is Uliopopa!

- Uliopopa. That's... an unique name.

- I know right! It's embarasing to say it out loud when I go on official business.

- So your full name is Mary Uliopopa.

- No... it's actually Amaryra Urulalu Uliopopa.

- That's... wow... I didn't expect that.

Low says.

- Haven't heard that kind of name before.

Nina says.

- Funny name.

- I know right. My family has a whole list of names we have to choose from when naming our children. That list is something that has been given through six generations. Apparently they are names that my ancestors had when they lived in some island nation. Imagine having to say your name to the masses with a straight face. Aah... It's embarasing.

I say.

- Well... I've heard weirder names like Lex's full name and your organisation leader's full name.

- That isn't true. Their names have something in them that doesn't make them sound as weird as my name.

- Relax, your name doesn't change how we see you.

- I know, but it's still embarasing.

- I will continue calling you just Mary.

- If you woul call me by my full name in public, I would have couple choise words with you.

- Noted.

We continued to our lives as it was before we knew Mary's full name. Couple months later Mary came to me with a problem she had.

- Nor, you are dragon hero right?

- That is something dragon lords call me now, yes. What about it?

- I need you to go to an auction and purchase one item in there.

- Sure, but why do you need me to do it?

- The item in question is a legendary basilisk dragon. I can't have anyone else purchasing it.

- What is a basilisk dragon?

- A legendary dragon that can turn anything it sees into crystals. Be it living or nonliving.

- Isn't that super dangerous then?

- It's ability is indeed something that cannot be looked down upon. As you are dragon hero, I think you would be able to tame it properly before it does any major damage.

- Sure, but where the auction is held and how much do you expect the dragon is worth?

- The auction will be held in Likus that is in east islands of Ihm. As for how much we expect it to cost, well, the rumor is that it's starting prize is 1 million lux.

- 1 million!? You expect me to have that much?

- Of course we will give you a budget of 10 million lux for this mission. If the prize goes even higher than that, then we have to resolt to a more underhanded methods.

- When are does the auction take place?

- It is roughly a month from now, so the next month's 22th. Make sure you get there in time.

- I sure will try.

- Here is the 10 million lux.

She hands me a bag of 10 coins that are each worth 1 million.

- Now then, I trust you will get this job done if it's withing the budget.

- You can count on me.

After this meeting, I called Lex to know a little bit more of the dragon in question.

- Hey Lex, I have a question.

- What is it?

- Do you know what a basilisk dragon is?

- Of course I do. I was there when their ancestor was created.

- You were there?

- Yes. Me, Destruction, Creation and Soul were there to create an ultimate dragon that can turn anything it wished to crystals. Not even god could look at them without fear. They could turn even the spirits of living beings to crystals if they just wish it to be so. They could also turn a single target if they so choose. It was a good hunting strategy to only turn one thing into crystals, which they would eat. They could eat any crystal they created, but they liked to taste different kinds of crystals, making them turn different things into crystals. But why are you asking anyways?

- There is an auction being held in a month and they are selling basilisk dragon as an item.

- ...

- Lex?

- How...

- How?

- How is that possible? They have to be lying about it.

- I got the info from the organisation called the Fallen. I think they are trustworthy.

- So they think... Look, basilisk dragons are extinct. There is no way that they can have one in the auction. Not only finding one alive, but capturing it alive is a whole something that shouldn't be possible.

- In any case, I will go to an auction that supposedly has a basilisk dragon in it.

- ... When is the auction held?

- 22th of next month at Likus.

- I'll be there. Call me when you want to go there.

- Will do.

And so I spent a whole month waiting for this auction to be held. When the day came, Lex teleported me and himself to Likus and we searched where the auction was being held. We found where the place was and that it was starting in couple of hours, so we decided to spend some time in town while waiting. When the time came, we entered the auction house. They had no problem letting Lex enter, but they were bit more difficult with me. Luckily Lex's words for me let me enter in the end. We were given a pretty high class seats and so the auction was about to get started.

There weren't any interesting items that I would have needed. Mostly decorative stuff. There was a weapon crafted by a famous blacksmith, but my sword was undoubtebly more valuable. Lex seemed interested on a crystal ball, but in the end deemed it unnecessary.

Then the thing that we came for came to the stage. It was mostly white dragon with shiny crystals covering it's body. It was blindfolded so I didn't get to see it's eyes. His mouth was also binded. The auctioneer introduced it as basilisk dragon who was captured from the mountains of south of Ihm. When I was about to ask Lex if this dragon was a real deal, he muttered.

- Unbelievable.

- So it is basilisk dragon.

- Yes. I was sure they were extinct, but this speciment is indeed a basilisk dragon.

- Then I quess I have to buy it then.

- I got some lux with me as well. I brought it just in case.

Then the auctioneer said.

- The starting price is 1 million!

I shout 1,5 million.

- 1,5 million called! Any more buyers?!

- 2,5 million!

- 2,5 million called! Any more?!

I shout 4 million.

- 4 million called! Any more?!

- 5 million!

- 5 million called! Any more buyers?!

I shout 7 million.

- 7 million called! Any more.

- 8 million!

- 8 million called! Any more?!

Someone else shouts.

- 15 million!

- 15 million called folks! Any other offers?!

What to do? I don't have that kind of money. Then Lex shouts.

- 18 million!

- 18 million called my dear guests! Any higher?!

The crowd is silent for a moment.

- Once! Twice! And thrice! We have a buyer folk! This item goes to number 93!

The aunction was now over and Lex was called off the stage. He told me to follow and we were told that the purchase must happen within 72 hours or the deal is off. Lex handed the man 8 million and when the man noticed he was off, he was about to call out for it, until Lex told me to give the rest. I did so and the dragon was now ours. Now it was about time we take it somewhere else. Lex says.

- Now then, where will we bring it? Well, that would be my first question, but how can we make it so that it wont attack us?

The basilisk dragon was clearly agitated and moved a lot to the point it started to feel agressive. I touch it's head and it immediately calms down, as if it realized something. I started to read it's mind. It said.

- This human has the aproval of the elders. He must be someone powerfull indeed. Let's not make him regret being near me.

- So you realize that I have dragon lords blessings.

- You... You could hear me? How is... no it must be because of your greatness. Forgive me that I can't speak your tongue and you are resolted to speak the dragon tongue.

- I didn't realize that I was speaking it. Must be part of the translation part of the ring.

Lex speaks.

- So you are communicating with the dragon by using Ryū's ability. And yes, the ring is translating your word to dragon tongue for him since he doesn't know any other language.

- I see. Can I trust you that you wont turn us into crystals and cause other harm.

The dragon says in it's mind.

- Absolutely. I wouldn't dare do anything against one that the elders trust.

I remove the binding in it's eyes and mouth. It doesn't open it's eyes for some reason.

- Now if you don't mind me asking, what just happened to me.

- What do you mean?

- All I know is that I was captured, then I spent a lot of time in bars and now I freed. What exactly happened.

- When you were captured, you were sold as an item in an auction.

- What is an auction?

- It's a place where people come to make things theirs by throwing money at others. Money is an exchange material often used in trading.

- I see. So does that mean that you bought me?

- We did buy you.

Lex says.

- As far as I'm conserned, the purchase belongs majorly to Nor. I'm just an extra.

- So Nor is my buyer. And since I was purchased as an item, I'm a slave.

I say.

- You were slave. As far as I'm conserned, you are free now.

- No. I was an item purchased by you Nor. That means that I belong to you now. That makes you my master.

- No no, wait! You are free now. You don't need to call me master.

- Nonesense, I was humiliated by being captured by mere mortals. To live up this shame, I must carry out my punishment and live as a slave to my master. And there is no greater honor than being able to call a dragon hero as my master.

- That's not necessary.

- My will is thus.

Lex says.

- Just accept it. When dragons decide on something, they will often be stuborn over it for as long as the matter isn't concluded.

- But the thing is concluded. I freed it.

- In it's mind, it must first be worthy of that freedom. In it's mind, it has not gained the honor that he can call freedom. Just accept it.

- Fine, but can you change in humanoid form?

The dragon answeres.

- I can't.

- ...

Lex says.

- Well, what are you going to do now?

- I... Let's call one of the dragon lords to help this one.

I first call Quetzalcoatl.

- Hey, I have a favor to ask.

- What is it?

- Can you teach how... a dragon... can be humanoid... and live in society? Why am I asking you this?

- I see. Sure I can teach one how to turn. But as for teaching how to live in society... I will give it my best.

- I will ask Lóng about the society thing.

- I see. That would be wise.

- Then I come there with my new dragon friend.

I go there with Lex's teleportation. And when I'm there, Quetzalcoatl seems super surprised and says.

- That... That's an basilisk dragon!

- Yeah, it's a dragon that I was talking about.

- But I thought... they were extinct.

- But here it is.

- This... Young one, can I trust you?

The dragon says.

- I won't use my powers to anyone who isn't hostile.

- That's good. What is your relationship with Nor?

- He is now my master for the time being.

- Is that so. You can tell me more about your circumstances later, but let's begin training.

- Yes elder!

- And Nor, be sure to visit Tenothtik.

I do just that, and as always I wasn't that welcome. But we chated nonetheless. I stayed there for couple of days, until Quetzalcoatl asked me.

- Do you wish for your dragon servant to be male or female?

- I can choose?

- Yes. Basilisk dragons can change their gender as they wish. Now would be a good time to tell your preference.

- Then... if it's going to be my servant, then female.

- Got it.

I decided to go back to Atlas and wait for couple of weeks. There I told Mary about what had happened, and she was sorry that her funds weren't enough.

As to why I chose female, it's because generally speaking, they have more charisma when talking to people. At least in my experience they can convince people better than men do. Also she'd make a great guard to my newfound house and with it, guard to Nina. Then I recieved a call that she was ready.

I was summoned there and what I saw was a woman with long snow white hair and pretty face. She had crystal covered horns and tail. She also had wings at the start, but she could retract them to be small enough to fit inside clothes. She still was not opening her eyes though, so I don't know about her eyes. Quetzalcoatl asks me.

- Now then, what do you want to call her?

- I have to choose?

- Well, you are her master after all. And you are the dragon hero of this time so she would be honored. Isn't that right?

She answers.

- Absolutely.

Then... A name... Something that I can call both man and woman, in case I decide to change her to male. How about Rey? That sounds good enough. Then as she will belong to my house, she should have a last name. How about Draca? It sounds like dragon, so it would fit. I think that is enough. And let's give her a middle name just because.

- I decided that your name is Rey Amelius Draca.

- That sounds good. What do you think... Rey.

Rey asnwers.

- That sounds good for me.

Then I ask

- Why do you keep your eyes shut Rey? Is it because you can't control your powers or something?

- No, we basilisk dragons just have a habit of keeping our eyes closed most of the time. We keep them open while flying though, so we don't always keep them shut. Would you prefer that I keep them open?

- No, I was just wondering why. But can I see your eyes for a moment.

- Sure.

She opens her eyes and I see a pair that shimers like they were gems. There was purple, there was blue, yellow, red, pink, all kinds of colors shined through her eyes at different times. They were pretty. Then Quetzalcoatl says.

- Now then, I called Lóng about the situation and he had already prepared a place for her to stay while she is studying. Are you ready Rey?

- Absolutely elder Quetzalcoatl.

- Good. You are good with this arangement too Nor?

I answer.

- Yes.

- Then I will send her to where Lóng is.

She disappears.

- Lóng should call for you when he thinks she is fine with her studies.

- I will do something in the meantime.

Then I spend a month doint simple tasks. While I was hunting I came to realize one thing.

- Why were basilisk dragons considered extinct when they have so powerfull ability?

I decided to ask Lex about this matter. He said.

- It mainly comes to the basilisk dragon's being passive in nature. Their whole bodies can sustain themselfs for 10 years if they eat one good meal. And if they sleep, they can sleep centuries. Due to their passive nature, they often wont attack first they are seriously provoked. This nature has made their numbers drop quickly when other dragons try to take their territory. Back in the day, it was a common knowledge that if you want to defeat basilisk dragon, you have to do it in your first move. Basilisk themselfs are angry creatures and should not be woken up.

- That makes some sense. But wait, basilisks and basilisk dragons are two different things?

- Yes. While the basilisk dragon's name was originaly crytz dragon, their ability to turn other creatures into crystals made them being called what they are now. Normal basilisks can only turn living things into stone. They are snakelike with two hands on their sides. And yes, they can eat the stone they create, but not any other stone.

- Well now I know more. Why did you have to make basilisk dragons so passive?

- Obviously so that they wont challenge every other beings in this world and the next. If we would have made them as agressive as other dragons, they would have taken over the world long ago. Still, I think making them only act when their livelihood and offspring are threatened might have been a wrong move. At least they were more inteligent than other dragons.

- Still, such a shame that they are close to extinction.

- Who knows, perhaps they did the same thing as lorshekts and hid themselves away.

- One can only hope. What do you think Rey is doing right now.

- The dragon that you bought? If it is studying under Lóng, I think she is learning about manners, social norms, history, arithmetics, science and some other things like strategy and fighting techniques. Probably sword saint or fist saint styles.

- That's a lot. What are sword saint and fist saint styles?

- You have lived this long and you don't know about those styles? What am I saying, of course you don't, since you were tought by Aktor who has no idea about swords. That was Mors' territory.

- Mors used swords?

- He took a liking to swords and made his own style called sword god style that is mainly used by religious practitioners and those who study under it. There is also fist demon style made by Relse in the past and sword demon style made by some mortal.

- What are the differences?

- Saint styles are mainly defensive in nature. Counters are their main form of fighting. If you give strong enough presence, then people wont have to resort to fighting. That is something they preach. Demon styles are focused on offence. If you can make your opponent unable to fight in the first moments of battle, then you are victorious. And then there are the god styles.

- What about the god styles? And what style does Aktor use anyways?

- God styles are primarily made by either gods or original powers. Soul made fist god style and Mors made sword god style. As of what they preach in their styles, I don't honestly quite know. I never got that part quite right. They were mainly personalised styles made by sertain people. They aren't necessarily better than others. As to what style Aktor uses, if he uses the same style he created back then, it's the spear god style. But honestly I don't know, since I don't know lot about martial arts. All I know from spear god style is that you must present your dominance in defence, offence, strenght and dexterity. You should ask Aktor more about this if you are interested. As far as I know, spear god style is somewhat practised by some monks.

- I will go ask Aktor about it when I see him next. So I guess I don't follow any sword styles.

- Your style is what we call free style or brigand style.

- Being called brigand style kind of hurts me a bit.

- It's just a common way of calling it.

- Is there any more styles?

- There are some variations of each style, but they follow similar schools of thought. For example marshal sword style is a military type sword style that takes aspects of demon and saint styles. Marshal sword style is tought in Eshtos. I don't know lot about any other styles since I don't bother learning about them. In my opinion, magic is much more superior.

- Of course you would say that.

Couple of days later I decide that I want to visit abyss. I call Lex again and this is the conversation.

- Can you teleport me to abyss.

- I can, but I wont.

- What? Why not?

- Why in the world would you want to go to abyss?

- To explore the world.

- Then do it in any other place than abyss.

- Why are you so opposed to the idea?

- Nothing that enters the abyss doesn't return the same. Even if it is something minor. I don't want to risk you changing your alignment.

- I wont go that deep.

- It's just better if you don't go at all.

- Then I ask someone else to send me there. Perhaps Fafnir can do that.

- You... really aren't giving up, are you?

- I said that I want to explore the world and abyss is part of the world.

- I don't think I quite explained the horrors of the abyss to you quite right. In fact, I might have given you the more pleasant description of the place that it actually is.

- Then go further in detail.

- Do you know what genre body horror is?

- I think I have the general idea.

- Then think that and picture it happening in a whole plane of existance. That is the abyss. True, it is majorly consisting of rocks and minerals, but the creatures that fall deep enought to it's depths never return as a pleasant looking thing. Many become mangled bodies that learn to levitate as the only way to get out of the depths of the abyss. No living thing that falls in wants to stay in the abyss and try to find a way to the surface. Those amalgamations of creatures will come and hunt anything that is not corrupted by abyss. One such example is a spider that consists of humanoid parts such as skin and bone. Creatures with many eyes and limbs floating and trying to exit the abyss. Of course there are cases where the creature actually gains more intelligence in the abyss, retains their original shape to some degree and returns to the top levels. Those creatures are called heralds. Those beings are devastating to settlements there and actually can get out of the abyss and get back to real world. Those things often infest a sertain place and conjure many of their corrupted kin. Luckily they are the only organised things that comes out of the abyss. Even so, I tread the day when something with more grand plans comes out of the depths of the abyss. On the side note, there are such things in abyss that are called "towers of flesh."

- Still, I want to see what kind of place it is.

- Well, this is what we call evolution I suppose. The weak give way to the strong and all that.

- What is that supposed to mean?

- Nothing. Now are you absolutely sure you want to enter the abyss?

- Yes.

- It was nice knowing the current you.

Then I'm teleported to a dark place. I have a strange feeling in my gut the moment I was here. Some dwarf on the distance noticed my sudden apearance and started coming towards me. When he came closer, he said.

- You new here?

- Ye-yes.

- Don't worry about it too much. You get used to the feeling.

- Is... Is that so?

- Come, I was on the way to a town, come with me if you want.

- Sure.

I decide following the dwarf and in couple of hours I saw what I think was a tower of flesh. We walked right past it as if it was nothing to look at. The tower rose high up to the sky.

Couple of hours later, we were finally in the town that the dwarf was going. We part ways and I look around a bit. I don't see any children around, which is good considering the corruptive nature of the place. I saw some flying fish in a flock above the town. I wonder where they were headed?

Then I was near the point where I could walk deeper to the hole. The town was at a decline to the point where some houses were close to edge. I placed an anchor just as a safety measure. I was handed some safety gear and I was off to descend.

I reached a platform that holded quite amazing looking creatures. The likes I have never seen. They resembled a toads size of a cow with two heads and eight limbs and many eyes. They didn't seem to be hostile, so I just observed them for a moment. Then I noticed a huge flock of things flying upwards from the deeper levels. I got a bad feeling, so I desided to start going back up.

Then I heard s loud roar coming from the depths. Even more things flied out of the depths. When I looked down, I saw a huge pile of flesh coming out of the depths. I saw a giant mouth that held too many teeth inside of it. Many arms and legs just flabering about the body as it floated upwards. I tried to hurry up to the surface, but the blob was too fast and I was nearly crushed.

I returned back in time before I was handed my safety equipment. I then told the people there that some flesh monster was coming from the depths. At first the looked at me doubtfully, but once the oldest looking dwarf saw my face, he knew that I was dead serious. He pressed a button that made an alert sound and everybody started moving.

I asked if there was anything that I could do, so they sent me to help people evacuate. When most of the town was evacuated, the flesh monster came from the depth and started floating atop the town. It was truly massive.

Mages blasted their magic and engineers basted their explosive weapons towards the blob. The hits managed to tear out some of it's giant limbs that flew back to the abyss. The blob started casting it's own magic and devastated the town below in fiery blaze. I somehow managed to survive. I thought that I had to do something, so I jumped as high as I could go and slashed the blob in half. Was I always this powerfull? Was it over? I watched as the two parts of the blob fell down and slid back to the abyss.

Is it okay to leave it like this? I could have done so much more. If what Lex said is true, nothing that is enters the depths of the abyss alive will stay there forever. What about living things that had died? In any case, I decided to go back in time before the attack.

There I left all the safety equipment, went to the edge and waited to see this blob. When I saw it, I jumped in and readied my attack. Then I unleashed an fiery slash that took out some of the surrounding walls. Just like last time, it was cut in half. But this time I added fire to my slash to make it burn to ashes. And just like that, the two pieces were turning to ash.

- Now then, before I fall too down...

- Facinating.

- Who's there?

I casted levitate and protection to myself. I have learned couple of new spells in my travels, so it's good to use them.

- Oh, I'm nobody. But I believe that the people on the surface call my kind as heralds.

- You are... an herald.

- Yes. And you are an outsider to the abyss.

- Where are you?

- I'm still on my way to the surface. I had to test if the people there could handle one of my kin.

- But they weren't inteligent.

- All that are transformed by abyss are my kin. Everyone else is an outsider.

- What are you going to do?

- It's simple, I wait a while longer to absorb some of the power of the abyss and then return to the surface. When I'm there... well... I guess you are smart enough to figure that out.

- Why would you do that?

- It's simple, I despise everything that isn't tainted by the abyss! Everything should be brushed under it's color! No living thing can exist without the abyss when I exist in the abyss!

- I wont let you.

- Hmmm... Well then... How about we start the invasion NOW.

Then a figure came from the depths and punched me to the gut. I went flying far up and ended up on top of the town. Then I noticed for a split second that another attack was coming, so I dodged the attack and I finally got a look of this herald. It looked horrible. It was a humanoid that didn't have any clothes and it's gender could not be classified. It's skin was hardened to the point where it looked like muscle. The muscles of this creature seemed to be massive as well. It had three fleshy tails coming from it's back. It left arm was covered in muscle and the other was thin as it could get. Both arms were much longer that the rest of the body, the thiner one being the more longer one. The left side of it's face seemed to be covered in some kind of bone and the right one was malformed to the point of recognition. I could barely see an eye in it's left side of the face and couple of eyes on top of it's head.

It started to attack me again with an amazing speeds. Even with my newfound strength and agility, I was having trouble dodgin it's strikes. I figured how I could defeat this herald. I dodged and looked around the places where it has previously being, then I dodged and found the spot where it has previously being, I channel my power to this sword and I see the point that I can strike. I take my shot and I slash the herald in half. It started to bleed heavily, until I used fire magic to make it burn. It screamed in agony as it turned to dust. When the screaming was over, I could finally breathe calmly. I cancel my anchor.

I looked down and I saw bunch of dwarfs looking at me and claping their hands. I must have made quite a scene. When I landed back to ground, I was immediately told to head to the leader's house, so I was guided to one of the houses and I was greeted in. The person that looked like a leader came and started thanking me for this favor.

- Thank you. Thank you! If you wouldn't have been here, it would have been at total loss for us.

- I only did what I thought was right.

- Facing a herald isn't such an easy feat, yet you took it down in moments.

- I just have good equipment.

- Yes, I can see that quite clearly. Do you know who the master who crafted that sword is?

- I do know, but they are quite secretive, so I can't tell you anything else.

- A pity, such a prime piece of craftmanshift. Well I'm sure it is good to be in your hands.

- Thanks. If there isn't anything else, I would like to see a bit more of the hole.

- You are an explorer I see. Well, feel free to use the equipment as much as you like. You will be always welcome in this town.

- Thanks.

- Here is your revard by the way.

He hands me a bag that holds 100 000 lux in 100 coins. It was quite heavy for it's size.

- Thanks. I'll be going now.

- Farewell!

I then go and put another anchor to this time and I go wondering around the hole for the rest of the day. When I started to feel tired, I returned to the surface level and rested a bit. I spend my life like this for couple of days until returning to the overwold. There Lex gave me quite a lot of questions and test before he would let me leave in peace.